BMW looks to 2021 with triple launch

BMW recently celebrated its 100th Annual General Meeting, which was the very first to be held virtually. Despite referring to 2019 and 2020 as challenging years, and stressing the difficulties of the current situation due to the pandemic, the company was eager to look ahead.

It has recently launched three vehicles: an updated 5 Series, an updated Mini Countryman, and a brand new Alpina XB7.

Alpina XB7

The XB7 is the first SUV made specifically for the US market coming under the Alpina marque. It is based on BMW’s X7, and will sit alongside the B7 sedan in Alpina’s line-up.

BMW has adopted what it calls a ‘modern design language’ for the exterior appearance of the XB7. The front of the vehicle is characterised by a large, familiar kidney-shaped grille that meets dual headlamps, as well as the significant air intakes that run along the bottom of the nose and push upwards towards the headlamps.

A metallic strip spans the width of the rear, dissecting the layer lights. There are two twin tailpipes at either side of the rear bumper, which also has small diffusor fins sitting in the middle.

Space is the name of the game inside. There are three rows of seats to accommodate up to seven occupants. Depending on the seat configuration, the luggage compartment provides capacity ranging from 48.6 to 90.4 cubic feet. The entire car can be lowered by up to 2 inches at the push of a button that is located in the luggage compartment, making it easier to load.

There is also a three-part panoramic glass sunroof that comes as standard, bringing in light and emphasising space. This can be upgraded to a ‘sky lounge’ roof that illuminates the glass surface with LEDs that are embedded inside, producing 15,000 graphical patterns that are designed to depict a starlit sky.

Light provides a considerable role to provide other fine details. The gear handle is illumated by a blue light, as are the door sills.

For extra pizzazz, the iDrive Controller in crystal glass includes a laser-etched Alpina logo. There is also an extensive range of standard equipment including high-end ’merino’ leather, multi-contour seats, Alcantara headliner and a leather instrument panel provide a luxurious feel.

5 Series

Although it maintains a very familiar appearance, the 7th generation 5 Series has been upgraded with changes to both the exterior and interior design.

The model is slightly longer (1.2 inches). A new kidney-shaped grille design is taller and wider, eating down into the front bumper. The adaptive LED headlights are slimmer and include two L-shaped daytime lights that also perform signalling. There are also new L-shaped tailights at the rear, as well as new trapezoidal tailpipe finshers.

The M Sport Package trim comes with re-designed front and rear bumpers, larger front air intakes with mesh inserts and a re-sculptured rear diffuser panel.

There are twelve colour options to choose from, two of which are new: phytonic blue metallic and bernina grey amber effect.

While the changes to the interior are minor, they do provide a different feel. Buttons on the centre console are now finished in a high-gloss black, and a new Perforated SensaTec upholstery with contrast stitching comes as standard on all four-cylinder and six-cylinder models.

Mini Countryman

The updated Countryman has new front and rear bumper coverings in body finish. A new radiator grille with hexagonal contours sits between two distinctively rounded LED headlights, and new fog lights have a light band in the upper semicircle that act as parking lights. At the rear, the inner structure of the lights have of course been designed to depict the Union Jack flag, again providing a familiar yet distinct finish.

A key focus for the Countryman is customisation. Three newly added colours, white silver metallic, sage green metallic and piano black, are available. The roof and mirror caps can be finished in black, white, silver, or the standard body colour. Taking it one step further, the mirror caps and side scuttles can also be finished with a grey-black flag pattern.

17-inch light alloy wheels in ’channel spoke black’ design are also a new option, as are 19-inch light alloy ’turnstile spoke’ two-tone wheels.

There are two new seat upholstery options to choose from: chesterfield indigo blue and chesterfield malt brown. A new version of the Mini Yours interior surfaces is also optionally available for all model variants with an illuminated cockpit bezel in shaded silver, door bezels in dark silver, and accentuation strips in hazy grey.